The economy feels shaky. Inflation, rising costs, and a volatile stock market dominate the headlines—and that anxiety doesn’t stop at the church door.
Many pastors are asking: How are we going to fund our mission in this new economic reality?
At Parable, we’ve worked with over 400 churches, and here’s what we’ve found: churches aren’t just reacting to financial instability—they’re wrestling with something deeper. Something systemic. The traditional model of fundraising for churches is showing signs of strain.
And we believe that’s not a reason to panic—but an invitation to rethink some things.
The Real Financial Threat Isn’t What You Think
There’s a misconception about what’s threatening church finances today. It’s not inflation or recession.
“The greatest threat to church finances is operating under an outdated model of church economics,” said Dan Pourbaix, Director of Partner Experience at Parable, in a recent episode of Distilled: Church Finance Made Simple.
That outdated model? Relying solely on tithes and offerings, and treating financial planning like a secondary task—rather than a key part of stewardship and a vital expression of the church’s mission.
This is a new era. And yet, many churches are still functioning as if the financial realities of the 1980s apply today.
Fundraising for Churches is an Unpredictable World
Let’s talk numbers.
- According to MortarStone’s 2024 Annual Generosity Report, only 1 in 20 attendees tithed.
- Lifeway Research reported that 67% of churches had trouble retaining regular donors—and 46% struggled to attract new donors.
- A Barna Group study found that 51% of pastors are very concerned about younger generations not financially supporting the church.
These statistics are a red flag—not because churches are doomed, but because the tools and strategies they’ve relied on may no longer be sufficient. The classic “pass the plate” approach is fading, and fundraising for churches must evolve.
Common Church Mindsets That Hold Funding Back
So why aren’t more churches leaning into this shift? When it comes to financial leadership, there are a couple of common mindsets that pastors have:
- The Ostrich – burying their head in the sand, avoiding giving and financial conversations altogether.
- The Awkward Parent – aware of the issue, but unsure how to broach the topic.
- The Holy Hesitant – convinced that focusing on money is unspiritual, even greedy.
- The Delegator – assumes someone else is handling it. They’re not avoiding the topic; they just believe it’s already covered.
These mindsets can often cause leadership to steer clear of addressing the issues and diversifying their options.
Seminary Didn’t Prepare You for This
Most likely, you didn’t go to seminary or Bible college and come out with a business degree. Nor did you want to! You signed up to pastor people, and we are firm believers that pastors shouldn’t have to wear every hat.
So, how do you make this happen? How do you go beyond tithes and offerings when you already have fifteen other things on your plate?
The Invitation
Let’s be clear: we are not declaring the old ways dead or suggesting every church is on the brink of collapse. In fact, many churches today are thriving!
But they aren’t thriving because they’re ignoring the issue.
They’re thriving because they’re asking the hard questions, getting honest about where the money is going, and inviting others into the conversation.
In the next article, we’ll walk through practical ways to begin transforming your financial model—including how to build multiple income streams, rethink generosity, and empower leaders who aren’t on your payroll.